Pulp-molding machine.



110,781,295. PATENTBDJAN. a1,- 1905. c. 1).0RMIsToN.

PULP MoLDING MACHINE. v

` ArrLIouIox mm1) rma. 2. 1903.4 v

' l unsure-snm L.

- 110,781,295. l PATENTBD JAN. ai, 1905. ..c. n. oRMIsToN.

PULP -MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 2. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'I I :5K www a PATBNTED JAN. a1, 1905.

C D ORMISTN PULP MOLDING MGHINE.

PPLIUTIOI FILED PEB 2 1903 @rurLv/Lfi /ng'gy."

No.'781,295. PATENTED JAN. 3.1, 1905.

` o. D. oRMIs'roN. PULP MOLDING MAGHINE.

APPLIUATIOQ FILED FEB. Z. 1903. l

B'BHBEvTS-SHBET 5.

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UNITED n STATES Patented January 31, 190.5.

PATENT OYRUS D. oRM-ISTON, OE LOOKPORT, NEW YORK, AssiGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO JESSE PETERSON, OE LOOKPOET, NEW YORK,

PULP-MOLDING. MACHINE. f,

' SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N o. 781,295, dated J' anuaryl, 1905..

Appiication ri'ed February-2,1903. stanno. 141,508.

To afZZlwh/om it may coin/cern,.-l

Beit known that I, Camus D. ORMISTON, of

' Lockport, in the county of Niagaraand State of New York, have invented certain new vvand useful Improvements in Pulp-Molding-Machilies, of which the following is a specification. l f `invention relates t pulp-molding machines of'that type in which a former, an exterior molding'device, and a dome or confining-chamber are .employed and in which hydrostatic pressurefismapplied to the Fexterior molding. device' tdcaus'ethefpulp to be `compressedv again'stthe former.'

In molding hollow articles having l' angular walls, particularly articles of a rectangular formation in cross-section, it hasy heretofore been a diliicult matter when compressing the pulp against the 4former to retain sufficient pulp at the corners of the article, the tendency of the'exterior molding device, which in part is formed of a cylindrical expansible bag, be-

ing to crowdV the pulp toward the center of the former, and as the corners are more distant from the center of the former than the vertical center of each wall the pulp is necessarily forced in opposite directions from each corner toward the vertical centers of the walls ,forming such corner, vwith the result that the corners of the article, are much thinner than other portions thereof and are consequently .weakand' even liable to crackor part when In some instances it has been found that in the act of molding removed from the former.

corners entirely.A

My invention has for its primary object the an article the pulp Was forced away from the production of a molding-machine of this type which will mold a hollow article having an# gular side walls so that every1 portion of the walls will be of'aneven thickness or, as may occasionally happen, that the walls will'be of an even thickness throughout, with thel thickness Aof the material at the corners somewhat increased, which can'thenbe trimmed as desired. l l y Other objects of my invention vare lto support the locking-,ring on the piston or pistonrod, to construct the bagring and bed-piece or leakage and whereby allpossibility of cutting the rubber or otherwise destroying the edge of the bag is eliminated entirely, to support the'head of the former soas to prevent the possibility of causing the same to collapse under the high pressure vto whichit is subjected, and to provide an improved center lplunger-valve which will permit the introduction of the stock into the moldingspace when llowered and which hasv means for adjusting the extent of the upward n cooperating mechanism at its lower end to elevate the same y and cut off the supply of stockan'd improved same even with theouter surface of the'he'adll of the former.

viding means whereby a greater quantity of stock is held within the molding-space in line with the corners of the former than at other points thereof and in the new and novel ar.- rangement, construction, and combination of parts', yas will be hereinafter described, and par.- ticularly pointed out in the-appended claims.

Referring to, the drawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of kmy improved machine, showing the plunger-.valve Open,which controls the entrance of stock tothe moldingspace, .the molding-bag expanded, and the` kchime-plate elevated by the stock introduced into the moldingspace- Fig. 2 is a similar sectlon showing the Water underipressure acting against the exterior molding device to compress the pulpvagainst the former.` Fig.- 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line u u, Fig. l,` the expansible molding-bag'being shown against the walls .of the dome and ex" tended into the corner'- pockets to permit the vaccumulation of a greater quantity of stock at such points.. Fig.y 4 is a horizontal section taken' on line e '0, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is anen'- larged vertical section through the former and a portion of the platform supporting the same. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line ww, Fig. 5. tical section through the lowerend of the ex- Fig. 7 is an enlarged ver.- v

pansible molding-.bag and the adjacent parts of the machine. Fig. 8 is anenlarged vertical section taken on line w, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line y y, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal section taken 'on line z z, Fig. 1, looking up. Figs. 11 and 12 are horizontal sections through a former, expansible molding-bag, and dome, showing modified forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Llike numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The numeral 1 designates the supportingframe, comprising an annular bed-plate or table 2 and standards 3, to which said bedplate is bolted. -The said bed-plate is provided with an annular depending flange 4, having an annular groove 5 formed in` its inner periphery and vertical notches 6 extending from said annular groove to the lower end of the flange 4.

7 designates the movable platform to which the hollow former 8- issecured, which is herein shown as being rectangular in cross-section and which is bolted to the external flange 9 of the piston `extension 10, forming part of a hydraulic jack 11, which may be of any suitable construction. The said extension 10 is hollow and, cylindrical in form and at its lower end is provided with ianges 12. The upper end of the piston 13 is `also provided with flanges 14, and bolts 15 are passed through said flanges to connect the piston with its eX tension 10. The latter,wh^ich may be considered as a continuation of the piston, is provided with supporting-.webs 16 cast or secured thereon, as may befdesired, said webs receivingsupport from the flanges 12 of the piston extension. A locking-ring 17 is supported `on the supporting-webs 16 and is provided with an i-nternal flange 18, forming a shoulder 19, against which the. said supporting-webs 16 bear, thusavoiding all possibility of the ring being displaced when lowered with the piston. Outwardly-extending lugs 20 are formed on the locking-ring, and when the piston is being elevated these lugs are adapted to pass through the vertical notches 6 and then enter the annular groove 5, when the ring is partly revolved. This locks the platform and the hollow superposed former in their elevated positions. vA. handle 21 is provided to conveniently manipulatethe locking-ring. Secured to the supporting-webs 16 are guide-bars 22, which are guided on guide-rails 23, formed on the standards ,3, and adapted to prevent turning of the piston andall parts ofthe machinesupported thereon.

Adome or confining-chamber 24 is provided,

l which may be of any suitable design, depending considerably on the shape of the former. As the former 8 is of rectangular formation and the articles to be molded by the machine are to be of a similar formation, the dome is made of corresponding shape and comprises side walls 25 and atop wall 26.l Pockets or enlargements 27 are formed at the vertical corners of the dome, and securing-lugs 28 extend from the lower end thereof, through which bolts 29 are passed and enter the su pportingtable of the machine.

Projecting upwardly from the platform is '.an annular flange 30, which forms both a ledge 31 on the marginal portion thereof and a circular recess 32, in which the lower end of the hollow former is secured.

The hollow perforated former comprises side walls 33 anda head or top wall 34 and, as is common, is faced with fine wire-gauze. (Not shown.) 4 Thelower end thereof is fitted in the recess 32 and secured to the platform by screws or other suitable means. A hollow casting 35 is 'located in the hollow former and comprises the valve-tube 36 and the stock-inlet tube 37. rlhis casting is supported on the platform 7 and supports the head of the hollow former, preventing the collapsing of the former under the high pressure to which it is subjected. The said casting is so located in the former that the valve-tube registers with an opening 38 in the head of the former and with an opening 39 in the platform 7. The lower end of the stock-inlet tube registers with an opening 40 formed in the platform, in which a nozzle 41 is secured. A hose 42 or other flexible connection is aiixed to said nozzle and -leads to the stock-supply. its function being to permit the platform and the superposed former to be raised and lowered. The said stock-inlet tube is arranged at a slight angle tothe valve-tube 36 and is curved laterally to communicate with the latter at the upper end thereof.

A plunger-valve 43 is normally supported with its lower end on the closed upper end of the piston proper and passes up through the piston extension and the platform and Venters the valve-tube 36, the upper portion of which is of corresponding diameter and receives the upper end of the plunger-valve with a snug lit. An annular space 44 is provided between the lower portion of the yalve-tube and the plunger-valve and also between the latter and the platformand piston extension. When in its normal position, the upper end of the plungervalve is even with or below the stockinlet of the valve-tube, as shown in Fig. .1.

comprisingin its preferred form a cylindrical rubber or other expansible bag 46, which surrounds the hollow former, and a chime-plate 47, movable vertically and having the upper end of the expansible bag 46 secured thereto. The said chime-plate is formed in two sections, an upper section 48 and a lower section 49, which are held together by screws or other suitable means andpbetween the marginal portions of which the upper end of the expansible bag is securely clamped. A guide-rod 50 is secured to the chimeplate and passes up through the upper wall or cap of the dome 45 designates the exterior molding device,-

IOS

and through a'- yoke secured to thelatter. A stop-collar 51 isv formed on or secured to the guide-rod 50 fa d supports aweight-52, which serves under normal conditions to keep the chime-plate 47 inits lowermos't position` which position is fixed'by the said collar'striking the upper end of the yoke, A s tuiling-box 53 is arranged inthe cap of the dome` through whichthev guide-rod passes.

The lower end of'the expansible bag is clamped between two clamping-rings 53:54, respectively, the upper ring 53 being located in a .recess formedat the lower edge of the V dome and necessarily having its outer edge of rectangulan outline to iit into the rectangular walls of the dome. The lower clampingring 54 is of angular formation in cross-section and consists of a. horizontal portion 55 and a'vertical portion 56. The clamping-ringv 54 fits onto the annular ledge 31 of the platv form, and the thickened lower end ofthe expansible bag is clamped between the two clamping-rings. The vconfining-wall of the .annular bed-plate has anvinwardly-projecting flange 57, which overlapsthe horizontal. p0rtion 55 of the clamping-ring 54, and an annular space 5.8 is provided between the said horizontal portion of the clamping-ringv and the flange 57, which allows the lower thickened end of lthe expansiblevba'g to be comf pressed without the' liability of cutting the yenter the said space. which is held immovable except for adjust- .35.

same 'as the material formingthe bag may The clamping-ring 54,

ment,'i`s supported by anumber of adjustingscrews 59 passinglhorizontally through the bed-plateand having' conical ends 60, which bear .against the chamfered lower face 61 of .SOI

molding-space between the'hollow former of the dome, where a the lower clamping-ring'i. Thefsaid adjusting-screws. can ybe quickly and conveniently adjusted totake up leakage and wear.

The dome is provided -withan inlet 62,

`through which water under pressure'enters andacts against theexternal molding device, and an out-let 63 to discharge the water from the'dome, each having a valve (not shown) to control the sauie,'as vis common.

The plunger-valve, asshown in Fig. 1, is in its lowerrnost position and allows communication between the stock-inlet and the and the externalmolding device. The stock is forced into the molding-space underpressure and causes tlieaexpansible bag to expand and the chime-plate to rise until both are stopped by the confining-walls ofthe dome.

The stock is directed equally to all 'parts of the" molding-space except at tlie'enlarged corners greater quantity of stock is gathered.

When the moldingspace is filled, the plunger-valve is-elevated and shuts olf communi- -cation between said space'and the stock-inletv tube, lin which position the upper end thereof is held flush `with the upper surface 'of the hollow formerywhicli causes theiinner face of thebottomfof the formed article to be, perfectly-smooth.

Entering the lower end of the plungerv valve is an adjusting-.bolt 64, and arranged near the lower end thereof is a vertical slot 65, arranged to receive the bifurcated' end of a lever 66, which straddles a friction-roller 67, located'in the said slot. fulcrumedl between its endsvon a .pivot-pin 68, held in lugs 69, projecting from the piston extension. A stop-plate is providedv which .is placed underneath the plunger-valve when elevated, thus holding the same against movement. Should the upper end of the plungervalve fail for any reason to be held flush with thefouter surface lof. the hollow former, the

boltv 64 may be adjusted to bring the upper end of the same to its proper plane.

When the molding-space. is filled-with .the

-stock and the plunger-valve is elevated, the

water is allowed toenter the dome under pressure through the inlet 62 and act against the The 'said lever i is exterior molding device to vcompress the pulp, I

which'action causes all moisture .to enter the former through the perforations therein and also to ente-1' al groove 71, formed lengthwise.:-

in .the`plu-nger-valve.; The 'said groove. ex-

tends from the upper end of said valve to a.

point ybelow the upper end of the annular directed horizontally to partly surround the same. The moisture enters the upper end of 'the said groove and vis directed to the annular "space, where it is allowed to seek its course out'of the machine. The moisture entering f space surrounding said valve andy is thence i Ioo the former through the' perforations formed therein may be discharged in anyisuitable manner. y

By accumulating a greater quantity of stock at the corners of .the angular former than at o other portions thereof the stock when com-U pressed will still retain the desired thickness,'

even though the tendencyI be to crowd a por-l ofthe formed article will be thicker than thel sides, and in such cases the article can be trimmed as desired. n A 1 i In'the mo'dification shown iu`Fig. 11 the expansible bag is also of cylindrical formation, and instead of forming pockets at the corners oi' the dome the said bag is provided with pockets or enlargements'72, which arearners thereof.

ranged in line with the corners of the hollow? former. v

In the modification shown in v12the e'xpansiblebag is of rectangular formation and also has pockets or enlargements in the cor- All reference made hereinafterl in the claims to the longitudinal edges or corners of the and the formen, means allowing the accumulation of---an extra quantity of stock in line with the longitudinal edges or corners of the former which form the .upwardly-directed ledges of the' molded article, and means for causngthe stockto be compressed against the l former. l

2. 1n a pulp-.molding machine for molding angular articles, thecombination of an angular former,.a dome surrounding said former and being separated therefrom by a moldingspace, an eiipansible bag surrounding said former within said molding-space, means whereby an additional supply of stock is held `within saidexpansible bag in line with the longitudinal edges or corners of said former which 'form the upwardly-directed edges of the molded'l article, and means for causingthe stock to be compressed against the said former.'

In a pulp-molding machine the combination of an angular former, a dome surrounding said former, anfexterior molding device between the dome and the former, means allowing the accumulation of an extra Quantity of stock in line with thev vertical edges o r corners of the former, and means for causing the stock to be compressed against the former.

' the said former.

4. In ya pulp-molding machine, the combination of an angular former, a dome surrounding said former and being separated therefrom by a molding-space, an expansib'le bag surrounding said former within said molding-space, means whereby an additional supply of stock is held within said expan'sble bag in line with the'vertical corners of said former, and means for causing the stock to be compressed against 5. In a pulp-molding machine, the combinationof an angular former, a correspondinglyshaped dome surrounding saidformer and having a pocket in each of its side corners, an expansible bag between said former and the dome, means for supplying stock between said former and the said bag, and means lfor causing. said bagjto compress the'stock against said former.

6. In a pulp-molding machine for forming rectangular boxes, the combination of a rectangular former,a rectangulardome surrounding said former and beingseparated therefrom by: a molding-space, said rectangular dome having a pocket in each of its side corners, a cylindrical expansible bag surrounding said former within the said molding-space, means wherebylstock is admitted under pressure to the molding-space 'so as to force said bag against the dome and into said pockets, and means for compressing the stock against the former.

7 In a pulp-molding machine, the combination of an angular former, a dome surrounding said former. and being'separated therefrom by an intervening space, an expansible bag located in said intervening space and being .adapted to expand against the surrounding walls of the dome, said intervening space being enlarged at points in line with the side edges or corners of saidformer, and means for causing the stock to be compressed against the said former.

. 8. In a machine for forming hollow articles from pulp, the combination of a platform, a hollow former having-'a head and being secured to said platformand means for supporting said' head from the said platform.

9. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combination of a platform, a hollow former comprising side walls and a head closing the upper end thereof and being secured to said platform, a valve-tube supported on said platform and extending upward to support the head of the former, a stock-inlet tube connected tothe upper end of said valve-tubeQ--and a plunger-valve movable in said valve-tube and being adaptedto control the supply of stock to the machine.

10. In aemachine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combination of the platform, a hollow former supported on said platform and vhaving aheadfprovided` with an opening, a plunger-valve adapted to open and close said openingv and Vhaving fa slot arranged lengthwise thereinat the lower end thereof, a friction-rollerheld in said slot,- and an operatinglever having a bifurcate'd end straddling said friction-roller and Abeing fulcrumed between its ends,

11. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combinationl of the platform, a hollow former supported on said platformand having a hea providedwithan opening, a plunger-valve adapted to open and close said opening and .having a slot arranged lengthwise therein at the lower end thereof, a friction-roller held in said slot, an operating-lever having a bifilrcated'end straddling said friction-roller and being fulcrumed between its ends, and a stop-plate for holding said plunger-valve in its elevated position.

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12. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combination ofthe platform, a hollow former supported on said. platform and having a head provided with an opening, a

vplunger-valve adapted to open and 'closesaid opening and'having a slot arranged .lengthwise therein at the lower end thereof, a fricv tion-roller held insaid slot, an operating-lever having a bifurcated end straddling said friction-roller and being'fulcrumed between its ends, an adjusting-bolt projecting from the lower end of said plunger-valve, and a stop-v plate' against which said adjusting-bolt bears cated beneath the linternal flange on the bed-V when the plunger-valve is elevated'.

13. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combination of the bed-plate having a circular opening and a Bange projecting inwardlyfrom theupper end ofsaid-opening, 'a platform held insaid opening, a former 4secured to saidplatform, a dome supported v on the bed-plate, an expansible bagsurrounding said former and having a thickened lower end, a clamping-ring held between the dome Aand the bed-platel and being adapted to bear against the outer side of said bag, a second clamping-'ring having its marginal portion loplate and being separated therefrom by an intervening space, said last-mentioned clampingringy being adapted to bear againstthe inner side and the edgeofthe "lower thickened end of the bag and force the same tightly against said internal flange on the bed-plate and against the first-mentioned clamping-ring, and 'means for adjusting the second-mentioned clampingring to take up wear and leakage.

14. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, thecombinationof an expansible bag forming part of the exterior molding device, a clamping-ring having a chamfered lower edge and being adapted to clamp the lower end of the said bag, and adjusting and clamping bolts passing horizontally through a fixed part of the machine and having conical ends adapted tovengage the chamfered lower edge of the said clamping-ring to cause the same to securely clamp the lower end vof the said bag against fixed partsof the machine.

15. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combination with the bedplate having an opening therein, of a platform having the former for the article secured thereto and being movable vertically, a piston supporting said platform and being located be- --neath the same,'suitable means for operating said piston, -a locking-ring engaging the lower marginal portion of the 4platform and being adapted to lock into said bed-plate to hold said platform elevated, and means for supporting said locking-ring ony the piston.

16. In a machine for molding hollow articles havinganopening therein, of a platform having-the former for the article secured thereto and being movable vertically, apiston operative by any suitable means supporting-said platform,.a locking-ring engaging the lower marginal *portion of the platform and being y adapted to lock into said bed-plate to hold said platformelevated, and supporting-webs projecting from said piston and having their upper ends engaging said locking-ring to support the same.

`17. In a machine for molding hollow articles from pulp, the combination with the bed-plate Y from pulp, Vthe combination with the bed-plate Y having an opening therein, of a platform having the former for the article secured thereto. and being movable vertically, a piston operative by anysuitable means'supporting said platform, a locking-ring engaging theI lower marginal portion of the platform and being adapted to lock into said bed-plate to hold saidy 

